For someone who had never done hard labor before, carrying over two hundred jin on his shoulders felt as if the entire planet was pressing down on him. Joe Di could feel his waist about to snap at any moment.
"Joe, if you can't take it, just say the word. We're brothers—no need for formalities." Marlon Mao noticed Joe Di's struggle and couldn't help but add.
He himself was already carrying two hundred and fifty or sixty jin, and had also helped Luna Cui with dozens more. But even with all that weight, he still felt no pressure.
"It's fine, I can manage," Joe Di gritted his teeth and said.
Marlon Mao didn't say anything further. Men always care about their pride, especially in front of Cassie Cao and Luna Cui. He would step in to help if Joe Di couldn't hold out later.
The procession moved grandly into Tianhuang District, each person carrying various supplies. The martial artists, however, were lightly equipped, each with only a tight little pack on their back. They led the way, followed by the laborers carrying loads.
With every step, Joe Di felt his very soul tremble. He could even hear the crackling of his bones, and his leg bones quivered with each stride.
He had heard Marlon Mao say that there were still over a hundred li to go. At this rate, he probably wouldn't last even half a li.
Crack! Just as Joe Di thought his leg bones were about to snap, a surge of powerful energy seeped from his heart and spread throughout his body.
Immediately, Joe Di was amazed to find that not only had his leg bones not broken, but his strength seemed to have increased significantly, and even his bones felt sturdier. The two hundred jin on his shoulders felt lighter and lighter.
After seven or eight li, Marlon Mao and the others saw that not only was Joe Di not struggling, he seemed to be getting more energetic. They were all secretly amazed.
Joe, you really never practiced martial arts?" Andy Hou couldn't help but ask. He had trained, but the first time he carried two hundred jin, he couldn't handle it either. Luckily, Marlon Mao had helped him, or he wouldn't have qualified to be a helper for the martial artists here.
Joe Di shook his head, "No, I always practiced medicine with my adoptive father in a small mountain village. After he passed away, I decided to see the outside world."
Looks like you have real talent for martial arts, and strong bones," Luna Cui couldn't help but say.
By now, the group had long left the flat road and entered a rugged mountain path. The trail wound through an uneven basin, like a twisted crack in the center of a giant bowl. Joe Di and his group walked right inside that fissure.
The path was narrow, and a single misstep could send someone sliding into the basin below. There was nowhere to rest, and if you couldn't keep going, you couldn't even stop—because if you did, those behind you couldn't move forward.
A few people who lacked strength had their legs tremble, slipped, and fell into the basin with their loads.
No need to ask; it was obvious those people had no chance of survival.
After seeing several people fall into the basin, Joe Di finally understood why those who came here to help the Rainfall Squad were putting their lives on the line. Sometimes, it wasn’t the fierce beasts or poisonous plants that killed you—it was simply failing to cross the basin.
At the same time, Joe Di understood why the Rainfall Squad prepared so many supplies. They must have known some of it would be lost along the way.